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Ive been on a pain management programme
Waylay
Member Posts: 949 Pioneering
Hi all,
I'm in my 40's, living with chronic back pain and back spasms for a decade, and also have various mental health issues. I'm trying to fight a PIP decision at the moment.
I've recently been on a pain management programme, which was fantastic. Ask me about it, if you want.
I'm in my 40's, living with chronic back pain and back spasms for a decade, and also have various mental health issues. I'm trying to fight a PIP decision at the moment.
I've recently been on a pain management programme, which was fantastic. Ask me about it, if you want.
Replies
Good afternoon & a very very big welcome!!!!!
Yes I have had “Chronic Pain” since 2005.
Please please can you let me/us know if you need any help/support you with your “pip”
It would also be very helpful to know more about your “Pain Management Program”
Thanks.
Senior online community officer
I have suffered chronic pain since 2005 and, at some time or other, everything you list. It is possible to get used to it and be able to move about (I suffer the equivalent of 8 slipped discs myself) with appropriate medication but you need to force yourself to not give in to the pain and to keep moving. Weight is likewise a decision you need to make yourself. Even if tablets make it worse you need to adjust your intake of food to lower levels as the less active your are the less food you need. Excess food simply goes to fat. I stress that it isn't a matter of dieting, just eating less. By doing this I have dropped from 23.5 stone to 14 stone.
I hope you manage to resolve some of your worries and get back to a more normal existence.
TK
I have to get upstairs on my bum. Every move is painfull.
Im on mophine and codine only take edge off pain of arthritis
Useful things you could do to prepare, which would also probably help you feel less anxious:
If you have MRIs or X-rays, etc., I'd bring them along.
You could write down your health history, including mental health, and a detailed account of the history of your pain, and bring them along. It'll save time, and make sure you don't forget anything.
You could also write down the meds you're on.
It might be useful to write a pain diary beforehand too. Basically, each day, you write a few things down every few hours:
- how much pain you're in
- any activities you've done, whether that's going to the gym or just washing a few dishes
- your mood (depressed, excited, etc.)
- how much and when you sleep
- when you eat, etc.
The doc might be able to see patterns in it that you don't.
Write down any questions you have.
If you don't have the energy to do these things, don't stress about it! They may or may not be useful.
Be open to what the doc says, but also make sure that you tell them honestly about how you feel. They're experts on pain, so they can probably help, but remember that you're the expert on *your* pain.
Good luck!
Pain wise I have suffered for 12 years but only for the last 2 has any of it been in the back. It has always been in the legs and hips. Oddly, despite there being no real reason for it I have always had more problems around the joints than anywhere else. However, after over a decade of continual damage I now have nerve pain as the most damaged nerves have become permanently damaged and now report pain whether I move or not. Nerve pain is far worse than joint pain which is far worse than muscle pain. The type you suffer will govern how bad it is to some extent.
Pain is subjective. The only way I have found to measure it person to person is by the amounts and type of pain killers taken. Over the years I have gone from no pain killers to high doses just to keep moving but keep moving I do, otherwise I might as well give up and die now. Generally people are started on Cocodomol. After that comes a number of other tablets and liquids such as Tramadol, DihydroCodeine, Oramorph and others. These are all or similar to Opiates. When these prove insufficient then you start the patches with Buprenorphine usually starting at 10 microgrammes per hour. 10 microgrammes is probably equal to 12-16 50mg Tramadol capsules per day. Buprenorphine though has a problem with about one third of users having an allergic reaction to the patch material (not the medication itself). If you have problems or if it is insufficient you get moved onto what is the final regular pain medication which is Fentanyl. There are 4 or 5 stronger meds but these are reserved for large animals or emergencies only. Unfortunately I am now up to 100 microgrammes per hour of Fentanly which is a level that terrifies most GP's but I still refuse to let the pain stop me. In general any dizziness or other bad side-effects are usually caused by taking too much of the medication.
There is another class of pain killers which are used to treat nerve pain. These are Duloxetine, Pregabalin, Gebapentin, Amitryptylene and Nortryptylene. Whilst they are not as strong as opiates in general and do little for anything other than nerve pain they are extremely effective for nerve pain which opiates do little for.
Unfortunately, with such a large selection, GP's tend to throw a lot of the lower level tablets at the problem trying to gauge what a person means by "a lot of pain" and often this means you are taking too much. Whilst it isn't a popular thing to do I always try to adjust the dosage myself.
TK
I just want to introduce myself as the new Chronic Pain adviser! I have a long personal history of chronic pain from back problems (umpteen back surgeries) causing nerve pain and also generalised soft tissue and arthritic chronic pain due to a genetic illness, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I have attended a pain programme at St Thomas's London, had a spinal cord stimulator implanted, used various different analgesics - but have also been on the other side as a pain specialist working as a hospice sister, before being clinically "retired" 10 years ago. Yes, I have been through the benefits system too....both ESA and PIP!! Great to meet you all - and I look forward to chatting, Claire
Chronic Pain Advisor
Scope
[email protected]
scope.org.uk
Chronic Pain Advisor
Scope
[email protected]
scope.org.uk
It’s great to meet you today!!!!
I hope you are ok “pain levels”
It’s great to know that you are a “Pain Advisor” here!!!!!!
I’m very sorry to pester you “straightaway”
But my “pain journey” since 2005 has been a real nightmare!!!!!
It seems to be the same situation for now & the near future which is “Great News” no not really!!!!!!
Many thanks.
Steve.
Pleased to meet you too!
So sorry to hear that you have been in pain for so long - pain is draining, physically and emotionally and can impact on so many areas of life. I think that one of the hardest things can be the feeling that nothing is going to change.
Are you able to tell me a little bit about your pain - if you are happy to do so? Do you have a support network around you (including medics)?
Claire
Chronic Pain Advisor
Scope
[email protected]
scope.org.uk
Many thanks.
Since 2005 I have gone from here in Birmingham to Oxford to Liverpool. I have been/still am very desperate in controlling/dealing with my pain.
They all want me to have “Deep Brain Stimulation”
But the NHS won’ fund the treatment.
This won’t happen in my time as NICE won’t give it the green light.
All that happened at my 12mnt appointment’s was that the NHS still won’t budge see you again in 12mnts “great”
Sorry to go on!!!!
Steve.
You are obviously having a very tough time.
Do you have a supportive GP? I'm wondering if the pain management you mention is the new shoulder surgeon (orthopaedic?) or a pain management team/course? Maybe your GP could explore pain clinics and programmes in your area with you.....I do appreciate that you may already be under a clinic, but if you're not it would be worth exploring as the doctors will have a different outlook on the medications.
There are also some fantastic support groups out there. I think that most of us know that our physical pain can spiral when we are hit by stress, lack of sleep or other emotional factors and so a vicious circle unfolds. Whilst a support group won't take away the root cause of your physical pain, just having some other people who understand to support you might help with some of the emotional turmoil that comes with being in pain every day. What social media groups do you use?
In my experience I have sometimes found that other medics assume that I have all the necessary knowledge ass an ex nurse, and so they don't need to explain things fully. I wonder if you might be experiencing something similar and others all assume that with your background you don't need their input - whilst clearly you do. Some tips that might be beneficial:
Heat pads - electric or microwave wheatpads, electric blanket in the bed
Relaxing in a bath of epsom salts
Topical gels and rubs (for instance ibuprofen gel)
A gentle exercise such as pilates (try the APPI as a start point)
Mindfulness/meditation
Essential oils (you probably do know more about these than me!)
Learn to pace your activity and accept help. Asking for help is a strength , not a weakness!
A healthy bedtime routine to help you sleep well - try to eat your evening meal earlier, warm bath, keep a regular bedtime, shut down electronic devices several hours before going to bed, avoid caffeine in the evening and opt for a milky drink prior to bed, ensure your bedroom lit with a low light and take a book to bed rather than watching TV - train your body that your bed is to sleep in.
Finally keep talking to those of us who understand. Your family and friends may want to support you, but if they haven't experienced the drag and turmoil of daily pain, they can't be expected to understand.
I do help this might help - please keep in touch,
Claire
Chronic Pain Advisor
Scope
[email protected]
scope.org.uk
Something I've found helpful: my pain clinic siggesugg we stretch three times a day: shoulders, neck, back, hips, arms, thighs, calves. Gentle stretches, slowly, and stop if pain gets worse. Rest in between if you need to. I often have to do them lying down. It has really helped. All my other muscles were tense and painful because I was tightening up due to the pain. Stretching keeps that to a minimum, and also seems to help my back - maybe other muscles aren't pulling on it so much?
The pain clinic also taught us relaxation exercises. I was dubious, but they really help me. You have to do them a couple of times a day for several weeks to get in the groove, but it's worth it.